Coin-freed striking-machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. COOPER.

GOIN PREBD STRIKING MACHINE.

No. 409,453. Patented Aug. 20, 1889.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shee1h 2.

H. COOPER. 00m BREED STRIKINGMAGHINE.

No. 409,453. Patented Aug. 20, 1889.

[053. iii.

N PETERS. Phol'ul-Hhngnpllur, Waahmgiou. n, c.

(No Model.) s Sheets-Sheet s.

H. COOPER.

00m BREED STRIKING MACHINE.

No. 409,453. Patented Aug.,Z0, 1 889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY COOPER, OF JERSEY CITY, NEWV JERSEY.

COlN- FREED STRlKlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,453, dated August 20, 1889.

Application filed April 12, 1889. Serial No. 307,042. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY COOPER, a sub ject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of Jersey City, county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Striking- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to coin-controlledmachines, and especially to such as are int mded to register or indicate the force or power with which a blow may be delivered upon the striking-head or buffer, its object being to produce a machine of this class which shall be simple in construction, effective in operation, and which shall not only insure that the index-finger be held at the point where driven by the force of the blow until purposely released, but also that the striking-head or buffer be prevented from moving until released by a coin; that the repair of such head or buffer be easily accomplished, and that the registration of the coin deposited be automatically effected. To accomplish all this and to secure other and further advantages in the matters of construction, operation, and use my improvements involve certain new and useful arrangements or combinations of parts and peculiarities of construction and principles of operation, all of which will be herein first fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 a side elevation, showing my improved machine standing ready for use. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view and elevation upon a plane passing through the supporting-rod for the striking-head or buffer. Fig. 4. is an elevation and partial vertical section, looking from the rear and showing the general arrangement of the interior mechanism. Fig. 5 is a side view of the supportingrod for the striking-head or buffer detached. Fig. 6 is an end elevation of such supportingrod; Fig. 7, a section of the fragment of the end of said rod on the line a; 00 of Fig. 6; and Fig. 8, a detail of the same, showing the collar thereon. Fig. 9 is a side view of the returning-lever, and Fig. 10 an end elevation of the forked end thereof. Fig. 11 is an elevation of the rack and weight through which the registering index-shaft is operated. Fi 12 is an elevation of such shaft. Fig. 13 is a side view of the lever carrying the frictionpad; Fig. 14, a similar view of the lever which communicates motion to the rack for operating the index-shaft and weight, and Fig. 15 a plan of the flattened end of said lever. Fig. 16 is an elevation of the sectorarm for actuating the warning-plate; Fig. 17, a front view of said plate, and Fig. 18 a side view thereof with the pinion attached. Fig. 19 is an elevation of the striking-head or buffer supporting-rod restraining-lever; Fig. 20, a perspective of the bottom of the coin-receptacle, and Fig. 21 a plan of the bar and spring through which it is operated.

In all these figures the same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts.

A is the frame or housing of the machine, the same being constructed in any approved form and design, and preferably provided with suitable doors in its back or sides, (not necessary to be shown,) through which access to its interior may be had. This frame or housing should be of a height sufficient to sustain the striking-head or buffer at a convenient elevation, and in order that the base may not be too long and wide, and yet insure the holding of the machine with the proper degree of stability, it may be perforated and bolted to the floor or other convenient support.

B is the rod which carries the striking-head or buffer upon which the blow is delivered. It projects through the front of the frame or housing into the interior thereof, and has secured to its outer end the striking-head or buffer, while the portion of it within the housing is connected to the resisting and returning means and with the train of mechanism through which the index-finger is operated to register the force of the blow. The strikinghead or buffer is of peculiar construction to insure at the same time ample elasticity to prevent damage to the hand of the striker, sufficient rigidity to transmitthe force of the stroke in the direction of its supporting-rod, and facilities for removal and repacking without dismounting the shaft. Of this strikinghead or buffer, B is the bottom plate, which may be made of wood or metal, and is secured upon the supporting-rod by a connecting-piece B from which it may be removed when desired, the bottom plate being provided with a central opening through which the packing may be inserted.

Secured to the circumference of the plate B in any preferred manner is the outer or larger end of a receptacle B which, extending outward from said plate for a short distance, is introverted, forming a cup-shaped holder for the'reception of any soft yielding and elastic material which may be packed therein, as shown at B. I prefer, however, to employ shreds of rubber for this packing, as being the most effective and least liable to mat down and become hard from excessive use, and in order to maintain it in the holder, as well as to afford a proper surface against which to deliver the blow, I find it desirable to cover it and the said holder with a sheet of soft leather E the edges of which are secured to the bottom piece B, as shown, by any approved means. The density of the striking-head or buffer maybe Varied at any time by simply removing some of the packing or inserting more, as may be required, which operations may be easily and readily accomplished by detaching the bottom piece B from the connecting-piece B and inserting or removing it through the central opening in the former.

Fixedly secured to the rod 13 within the the frame or housing is a collar a, which is provided with rounded shoulders a a, against which the forked arms a c of the bell-crank O abut. This collar, instead of being made cylindrical, has its two opposite sides flattened to adapt it to fit between said forked arms, and thus serves not only to prevent the withdrawal of the rod from the housing, but also to arrest its backward movement at the proper point, as well as to prevent its turning or rotating upon its axis.

is a bell-crank pivoted at a convenient I point b, the forked arms 0 c of which bear against the shoulders at, and the opposite end of which is connected with a returning-spring d, anchored upon some convenient projection or ledge within the housing, as by use of a bolt d and nut (P, by which the tension of spring (l may be regulated. The bell-crank O and spring (I operate to maintain the striking-head or buffer in normal position at the point where it should receive the blow and to return it and the shaft after any displacement thereof.

Near the inner en (1 of the rod B is connected, as at '6, one end of a bell-crank lever D, the same being pivoted in the housings at a convenient point, as f, its projecting or free arm being flattened or smoothed, as at g, so as to accommodate or receive the lower end of a rack E, which rack is provided at its upper end with a suitable weight E. This rack is guided in any suitable manner in an interior box or frame F, and meshes with a pinion G upon a shaft G, the inner end of which shaft is suitably stepped in the frame F, and the outer end of which projects through the front of the housings and carries a pointer or index G which may travel over the face of a suitably-graduated dial-plate G which is intended to be covered, as by'a glass plate G Under this arrangement itis apparent that when a blow is delivered upon the striking-head or buffer the rack E will be elevated in proportion to the force of the blow and the pointer moved accordingly. The downward movement of the rack E, through the gravity of the weight'E, will carry the pointer back to its initial station.

To hold the rack E for a time at its highest point, and thus prevent backward movement of the pointer until the reading of the dial may be satisfactorily accomplished, I provide the shaft G with a cylindrical surface G upon which rides a friction-block H of any suitable material, as felt or rubber, the same being mounted upon a lever H, pivoted in the casing, as at h, and resting lightly upon the surface G provided for it. This will not interfere with the proper turning of the shaft G under the influence of the blow upon the strikinghead or buffer, but it bears with sufficient friction to prevent the weight E from returning the pointer to its initial station until the friction is removed. The pointer will thus be maintained in the position to which it has been driven as long as may be desired. To release it, a simple cam-block, as H mounted upon a shaft H which projects through the casing, may be turned in either direction from the exterior, suitable stops, as H H preventing the cam from being turned too far.

The machine, being intended for use without the presence of an attendant, should be incapable of being operated before a coin has been deposited in it. I therefore provide a balance-lever L, which turns upon a pivot '1 and against which, when in its normal position, the end of the rod B will abut, thus preventing this rod from being moved forward. The lever L can be moved from the path of the shaft B only by the weight of a coin, which, being passed through an opening K provided for it, follows down a chute or director K and drops into a receptacle L upon the end of a balanced lever L, which is pivoted, as at 2'. The weights 7t 76 used for balancing this lever are in the form of nuts, one of which will set the other, so that they may be moved and set as may be required for operation with one coin or another.

As thus constructed and arranged, provision is made for locking the rod B against longitudinal movement from a blow delivered upon the striking-head or buffer, or from other causes, as wellas for releasing the same, when required to permit of such movement, by the gravity of a coinfor instance, when dropped through the opening Kand in order to hold theleverL from lateral movement when in its normal position, and against the force of ablow upon the striking-head or buffer, if delivered while it is in that position, I provide the frame or housing A with hooked lugs or keepers Z Z, with which it engages at that time, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 4:.

M indicates a sector, which meshes with a pinion I on a shaft 1 to operate it, and is mounted upon an arm M, pivoted at m and connected to the lever L, substantially as shown. WVhen the lever L is depressed by the weight of a proper coin, the sector will be thereby turned on its pivot, and, through the pinion I, with which it meshes, rotate the shaft I. The blow may then be struck and the force or power thereof indicated upon the dial.

To Warn persons against striking the head or buffer when the rod B is rendered immovable by the interposition of the lever L in its path, the shaft I is carried through the frame or housings, and upon its outer end is mounted a disk 1 the same being suitably protected against interference, and bearing legends, as Strike now and Do not strike, or other indications such as may be appropriate. One of these being visible, the other should be concealed, as by a screen 1 The warning legend will remain exposed until the coin-lever has been depressed, when it will disappear and the other (if another be used) will be brought around to view, as will be apparent.

The receptacle L should hold the coin after it has been received and the coin-lever depressed by it until such time as the blow has been struck. For this reason I provide the coin-receptacle with a sliding bottom N, the imperforate half or portion of which is held beneath the lower mouth of the receptacle by light springs, as a it, until such time as it is so moved as to uncover the lower mouth or delivery end, and thus permit the coin to drop out and the coin-lever to return under the influence of its balancing-weights. The end of the rod 13 is slightly cut away or beveled off, as shown at Figs. 6 and 7, and against the surface so formed one end of a spring-actuated sliding bar is made to bear, the other end being so situated that when the receptacle L is depressed to its limit of travel it will bring one portion of the movable bottom. nearly or quite in contact therewith. The bar 0 being suitably guided, as in the ways 0 0, as soon as the shaft B is forced inwardly the inclined portion of its inner end will crowd the bar 0 in the direction of its length, and this will force the sliding bottom N against the action of its springs, uncovering the delivery end of receptacle L and permitting the coin to drop therefrom, when the arm L and the rod B will immediately resume their normal positions. From the receptacle L the coin proceeds to the boX P, following down a chute or conductor P provided for it.

It is desirable, for obvious reasons, to register the number of coins deposited in the machine. I therefore cause the coins as they leave chute P to drop into a second receptacle Q, which is mounted upon the end of an arm Q, the inner end of which 'actuates any suitable registering mechanism. (Indicated at Q The receptacle Q is open at the top and outer side, but is closed at its other sidesand bottom. A suitable stationary are R is opposed to the open side of the receptacle, keeping this side closed until such time as the receptacle is carried down below its lower end, which is the point at which registration will take place and the lower outer side be unobstructed, so that the coin will drop out and the lever or arm Q freed to return to its original position.

The machine thus constructed and arranged will be found of few and simple parts, which may be easily kept in working order, safe and reliable, and generally well adapted to answer all the requirements of a machine of its class.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with the movable rod, the striking-head or buffer mounted thereon, said striking-head being packed with shreds of rubber, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination with the movable rod, the striking-head orbu fier having a centrallyperforated back piece removably secured upon the extremity of the rod, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The herein-described striking-head or buffer, composed of the back piece, a receptacle of elastic material, a packing or filling of rubber shreds for such receptacle, and a cover, combined and arranged substantially as explained.

at. The combination, with the rod carrying a striking head or buffer, of a collar on said shaft, a bell-crank lever, and a tension-spring connected with said lever, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination, with the rod, a lever connected thereto, a rack resting on said lever and carrying a weight, the index shaft, and a pinion thereon for engagement with said rack, of a friction-pad for preventing the backward movement of said shaft and a lever carrying such pad, substantially as described.

6. The index-shaft, the friction-pad bearin g thereon, the pivoted lever carrying said pad and a cam for moving said lever and releasing said shaft, combined and arranged substan tially as shown and described.

7. The combination, with the rod carrying the striking-head or buffer, of a hinged lever adapted to be moved by the weight of a coin and keepers or lugs for cooperation therewith, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the coin-recep tacle mounted upon the end of a hingedlever, a sliding bottom. consisting of a perforate and imperforate part, and springs for holding the bottom, substantially as shown and described.

9. The combination, with the coin-recep tacle and its sliding bottom mounted upon a hinged lever, of an opener-bar arranged to move said bottom, and the rod carrying the striking-head or buffer for operating said opener-rod, substantially in the manner shown and described.

10. The combination, as before set forth, of the rod carrying the striking-head or buffer, the spring opener-bar bearing against an incline on said rod, a hinged lever, and the coin receptacle with its movable bottom mounted thereon, said lever being arranged to carry the bottom into position to be moved by the opener-bar at the time and under the conditions essentially as explained.

11. The combination, as before set forth, of the rod carrying the striking-head or buffer, the index or pointer shaft connected with such rod and operated thereby, the hinged lever and the coin-receptacle mounted thereon and provided with the movable bottom, and

the opener-bar arranged to be moved and to operate, substantially in the manner and for the purposes explained. v

12. The combination, with the rod carrying the striking-head or buffer, the bell-crank lever connected thereto, the rack and weight resting upon said lever, and the pointer and pointer-shaft operated fronrsaid rack, of a second bell-crank engaging said rod, a resisting and returning spring connected to such last-mentioned bell-crank, a hinged lever carrying a coin-receptacle, keepers or lugs therefor, a sector and sector-arm, and a warning-plate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of April, 1889.

HENRY COOPER.

Witnesses:

HENRY CARTER, WM. II. APPLEToN. 

